The tree carver of Welland, Ont., has been caught, Niagara police say.
A 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with mischief over $5,000 for chiseling detailed faces into the trunks of seven living trees, said Const. Michael Malachowsky with the Niagara Regional Police Service.
The man was also charged on Monday for failing to comply with a bail condition in an unrelated case, Malachowsky said in an email.
He is being held in jail until a bailing hearing next week.
The police investigation began last month after haunting faces appeared etched in trees near Welland’s city hall.
While the Welland Downtown Business Improvement Area described them as “unique carving pieces” on social media, city officials said the cuts had caused irreversible damage.
The ability of the Norway and Manitoba maples and five poplar trees to transport nutrients has been disrupted, said Welland staff in a statement.
And they’re now more more exposed to harmful diseases and pests.
“These [cuts] are not only detrimental to the tree but can also affect the overall tree canopy that provides shade, oxygen, and habitat for wildlife,” the statement said.
The city anticipates it will need to replace the trees in a few years, which will cost taxpayers up to $8,000.